title: A method to analyze the cord geometrical uncertainties during head and neck radiation therapy using cone beam CT.
abstract: We developed a method to analyze quantitatively the residual cord geometrical uncertainties after image registration during head and neck radiation therapy by using sequential cone beam CT (CBCT). The geometrical centroid line of cervical spinal canal was computed to serve as a cord surrogate. We found that the cord motions were non-uniform from C1 to C6, and that the patterns of motion were variable across patients. This method has potential applications in monitoring cord setup accuracy and in designing treatment margins.
authors.affiliation: Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Network, Toronto, Canada. gzeng@cvh.on.ca
authors.forename: Grace G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Stephen L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Breen
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bayley
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Jaffray
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D009068:Movement; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*